Multi-tool pliers

O

olddogrib

Joined
Apr 18, 2011
Messages
138
Which upper-end multitool would have the strongest set of pliers? I've owned Leatherman and Victorinox and been partial to one or the other for various other reasons. Presently, I don't own one but looking at something to compliment recreational trapping in the winter and carry less stuff. Next one needs to excel at bending wire and good funtional wire cutters would be a plus.
 
I suggest either a Leatherman Supertool 300 or it's smaller version the Rebar. They both have replacable wire cutters, saw, file, and a sereated blade.
 
William Cannon said:
I suggest either a Leatherman Supertool 300 or it's smaller version the Rebar. They both have replacable wire cutters, saw, file, and a sereated blade.
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Although I have and like both, for your purposes I think the ST 300 would be the better choice. Although the Rebar is fine for EDC because of lighter weight and reduced size, bigger is usually better, especially in a winter environment.
 
For your particular needs it seems the ST300 or the new model Surge would be a perfect fit. For recreational trapping in the Winter I would not take any other tool besides one of those two.
 
You might take a look at some of the offerings from SOG. The compound-leverage pliers are phenomenal, and go through wire effortlessly. The other implements on the tools, well... they're serviceable, nothing amazing.
 
The pliers on the ST300 are the best I have seen in a MT. I used mine to cut very heavy wire with no damage at all to the cutters. The new Surge has the same pliers as the ST300. I would go with either of these two MT's.
 
I have a Gerber....forget which model. This thing is very strong. I use it all the time.....

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Victorinox SwissTool has a sturdy plier head and the handles don´t bite into the hand since all other tools are on the "right" side.
Here the head is compared to the Wave.
IMG_7121.jpg
 
Gima Nord said:
Victorinox SwissTool has a sturdy plier head and the handles don´t bite into the hand since all other tools are on the "right" side.
Here the head is compared to the Wave.
IMG_7121.jpg
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These multi-tools are not properly matched size for size. A better comparison, I believe, would be between the Swisstool and Super Tool 300. In that matchup, the pliers are roughly equivalent, with Leatherman providing superior wire cutting ability. I find the ST 300 needle nose more versatile than the blunt Vic's, but that's a personal choice. Also, like the Swisstool, no palm pinch.
 
znapschatz said:
These multi-tools are not properly matched size for size. A better comparison, I believe, would be between the Swisstool and Super Tool 300. In that matchup, the pliers are roughly equivalent, with Leatherman providing superior wire cutting ability. I find the ST 300 needle nose more versatile than the blunt Vic's, but that's a personal choice. Also, like the Swisstool, no palm pinch.
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O.k. here is the comparison with ST 300, I still think the Swiss has the upper hand for strength which was TS concern. Also it is easier to apply a high force and less risk of pinching the hand than on the sharper edges of the ST 300 .
Also the machined head of victorinox is inherently a much stronger fabrication method than powder casting. LM are more prone to brake which a Quick search will give many testimonies of.
I agree however the ST 300 plier is more versatile design for all around tasks with more pointy needle nose pliers.
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After many years of medium to hard use in the construction industry,I favor the Gerber and SOG lines.
YMMV

Glak
 
I like the full size Swisstool so much it's my usual EDC. That said, if you are going to be cutting a lot of heavy gauge steel wire, I'd look at something with replaceable cutters. If I cut a nail, for example, I sometimes will raise a burr on the Swisstool cutters that makes it hard to open the pliers. Not a big deal to hone it off, but not something I'd like to do outside in the winter wilderness.
 
My SOG powerlock pliers are better than any Leatherman I have ever owned. They are smooth and super strong, the SOG powerlock is an awesome mulittool. I dont care about knife blades, micro saws and such on a mulittool. I carry a multitool mainly for the pliers and screwdriver accessories and I love the V cutter on the powerlock. SOG seems to be the way to go for me, although I still do like leatherman and I am not trying to bash them in any way. SOG pocket power plier is their smaller, lighter and more basic model.
 
Gima Nord said:
O.k. here is the comparison with ST 300, I still think the Swiss has the upper hand for strength which was TS concern. Also it is easier to apply a high force and less risk of pinching the hand than on the sharper edges of the ST 300 .
Click to expand...

The rolled edges on the ST300 don't pinch the hand. I was referring to the space between the handles when the tool is in pliers mode. Both the Swisstool and ST300 are about equal in hand comfort there.

Gima Nord said:
Also the machined head of victorinox is inherently a much stronger fabrication method than powder casting. LM are more prone to brake which a Quick search will give many testimonies of.
I agree however the ST 300 plier is more versatile design for all around tasks with more pointy needle nose pliers.
Click to expand...

The Swisstool pliers head is also cast steel. To my knowledge, none of the multi-tools on the market have forged steel plier jaws. As for breakage, it's really hard to know how Vic and LT compare because, at least in the US, Leatherman vastly outsells all other brands. Even if breakage rates were equal, far more Leathermen would need repair than Vics. This is speculation, though.
 
znapschatz said:
The Swisstool pliers head is also cast steel. To my knowledge, none of the multi-tools on the market have forged steel plier jaws. As for breakage, it's really hard to know how Vic and LT compare because, at least in the US, Leatherman vastly outsells all other brands. Even if breakage rates were equal, far more Leathermen would need repair than Vics. This is speculation, though.
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For my eyes the plier heads of Leatherman looks sinter cast, not forged, while I have never seen a Victorinox tool made using this method.
 
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